Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“I hope they find whoever’s responsible for this soon because it’s total bullshit,” I say honestly. “Please stay safe, okay?”
“I will. Thank you again.”
“You know I’d do anything for you…even when I really don’t want to.” I groan, thinking of the things I can pack for him.
She chuckles. “I know.”
After we hang up, I grab a couple of duffel bags and put extra blankets and pillows in them. I don’t know what he’s going to need, so I grab everything I can think of—towels, soaps, snacks. Though I hate to admit it, I still have a soft spot for Noah and don’t want anything bad to happen to him. It’d devastate Gemma and Jerry, and I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be sad too.
Once I have the bags ready for tomorrow, I check my phone and see a message from Everleigh.
Everleigh: Oh my God, did you hear what happened??
Katie: Yes, it’s horrible. I can’t believe someone’s trying so hard to hurt him.
Everleigh: You mean KILL him! That bomb could’ve exploded and destroyed the entire house for all we know.
That thought sends a chill down my spine.
Katie: They better find out who it is soon. I can imagine Tyler’s ready to swoop up Gemma and take her away.
Tyler’s always been an amazing partner to Gemma, but he's been super protective ever since she got pregnant. He’s already a take-no-shit kinda guy, but if he thinks his wife or family are in danger, he won’t think twice about getting revenge.
Everleigh: Oh, he’s pissed. I called him after Gemma texted me, and he was nearly screaming in my ear. I told him to calm the fuck down so he wouldn’t stress her out.
Katie: Yeah, she sounded pretty upset on the phone, which is how she sweet-talked me into letting Noah stay at the new house for a few nights.
Everleigh: Yeah, I might’ve suggested that…DON’T BE MAD!
Katie: OMG, EVERLEIGH! I’m going to strangle you!
Everleigh: You love me, and you know this is the right thing to do. It hides Noah for a few days and keeps his family safe until they have time to investigate. Sheriff Todd has to interview the neighbors to ask if they saw anything.
Katie: Y’all owe me margaritas.
Everleigh: Don’t worry, they’ll be bottomless :)
I swear, my friends are going to be the death of me.
After an hour of tossing and turning with my thoughts racing about Noah, I decide to get up. I go to my closet and look for an old shoebox I stuffed in the back. We used to write notes to each other during school, and for whatever reason, I kept them. Hell, I know why I did…I was crazy about him, even if we were only just friends.
Everleigh and Gemma would pass notes to me during class too, but not as much as Noah did. Sometimes, they’d be serious things, like how he struggled in a class or how he missed his mom. Other times, it was stupid drawings, jokes, or he’d ask silly questions.
Katie,
If you could only take one thing with you to a desert island, what would it be (besides me, of course)?
I read the note and laugh, remembering how I responded.
If I could only take one thing with me, it’d be a How to Survive on a Deserted Island book, so I had a better chance at living since I know you’d be useless.
Noah knew I was only teasing, but I bursted out laughing when he read it. He frowned and scowled at me.
After school that day, we made a whole survival guide as if we’d actually get stranded.
He was in charge of gathering wood for a fire and branches to build us a shelter. Then he’d hunt, and I’d cook.
We had planned out an entire scenario, and it was moments like those when I thought maybe he did have feelings for me. We were acting like a couple at our pretend island. According to Gemma, Noah did have a crush on me, but I still don’t believe that. If Noah did, he was really good at hiding it.
I find another box with all kinds of keepsakes Noah gave me. Birthday cards, super special notes he’d written me, movie theater stubs, dried petals from the flowers he’d gotten me for Valentine’s Day, so I didn’t feel left out freshman and sophomore year. There’s a decade of memories inside, and though our friendship is long over, I can’t find it in me to throw these boxes away.
Once I finish going through them, I put on the lid and tuck them away because that part of my life doesn’t exist anymore.
CHAPTER TEN
NOAH
TWO HOURS PREVIOUSLY
After a long day at work, I’m looking forward to relaxing at home with my dad and Belinda. I don’t even care that he keeps his old British TV shows on all night because it’s paradise compared to when I was locked in a cell.